Two days later, in Banyan Sage Village near the border of the Silves Kingdom.
It was said that a Soul Sage with a banyan tree martial soul had once come from this place, hence its name.
A large banyan tree stood beside the village entrance, with a well beneath it and a broad clearing beside the well.
The village children usually played here.
Today was a special day for Banyan Sage Village.
Someone from Spirit Hall had come again to perform the martial soul awakening ceremony for the children.
But things were somewhat different this year.
The person conducting the village's martial soul awakening ceremony had arrived a day late. She should have come yesterday, but for some reason, she had only arrived this afternoon.
Still, it hardly mattered. There were not many people left in Banyan Sage Village now.
A few months ago, an epidemic of unknown origin had infected young people in many of the surrounding villages.
The families living in Banyan Sage Village had shown foresight. When they realized something was wrong, they immediately consulted one another and took their families somewhere far from the epidemic.
Only the village chief and a few stubborn households remained, unwilling to leave.
There were just three children old enough to awaken their martial souls.
So a few days earlier or later made no difference.
At dusk, Hu Liena stood at the entrance of a vacant house, thanking the elderly woman before her.
"Granny Chief, thank you so much for arranging a room for us.
"I met this young woman on the road. She's been unconscious and running a fever, so I couldn't just leave her.
"That's why I was late coming to awaken the martial souls in Banyan Sage Village."
The old woman smiled kindly and waved a hand.
"Don't